New bone cancer drug recommended by NICE

06/09/2011

Certain patients with osteosarcoma (bone cancer) may be offered a new drug called mifamurtide (brand name Mepact) on the NHS, according to final draft guidance issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

The drug may be given to patients with high-grade resectable non-metastatic osteosarcoma, alongside post-operative chemotherapy.

NICE's latest guidance follows a re-examination of available evidence by the institute's appraisal committee.

Research suggests that adding mifamurtide to surgery and chemotherapy may increase the number of patients who are effectively cured of the disease.

Sir Andrew Dillon, chief executive of NICE, revealed that the NICE Board had clarified the way in which discounting should be applied in cases where the benefits of treatment are realised over a very long period of time.

The appraisal committee had then considered the drug's curative potential and the fact that the disease is rare.

'After further careful consideration, and taking all of these factors into account, the committee was able to recommend mifamurtide for osteosarcoma,' he added.

The decision was welcomed by the drug's manufacturer, Takeda UK, whose managing director Yasuhiro Fukutomi said the approval process had been 'long'.

He said: 'It has taken everyone's collaboration to lead us to this successful conclusion for osteosarcoma patients today.'

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